TEHRAN, March 16, YJC - Iranian Minister of Energy Hamid Chit-Chian said the country has resumed electricity export to Iraq after receiving part of its debt.

TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Iraq owed Iran $1.250 billion, he said, adding Iran and Iraq signed a deal after Iraqi deputy minister of energy visited Iran during which Iran received over $300 million of the debt.

According to Chit-Chian Iran had to stop electricity transfer to Iraq due to its debt, however, the two sides agreed to resume the process in coming days and after talks.

Earlier in Feburuary, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called for boosting energy ties between the two countries.

Zangeneh and al-Abadi shared views on cooperation in the fields of oil and gas as well as electricity.

The Iranian oil minister and the Iraqi prime minister also explored avenues for broadening of bilateral ties and removal of the obstacles hindering mutual collaboration.

Zangeneh arrived in Baghdad at the head of a delegation and was welcomed by his Iraqi counterpart Jabbar Ali al-Luaibi.

Iraq intends to meet its power plants’ fuel needs via gas imports from Iran to replace oil and gasoline with gas for its cost-effectiveness to the country.